The Forrest City times., 1887-12-31
POWDER AND ARMS.


 Mi Arrow, brown old sailor. with earrings m ms ears and squint He and the souiTe were very thick and friendly, but soon ob- served that things were ROt the same be- tween NIT. Irelawney and the captain.
 ms last was sharp-looking man. who seemed angry with everything on board. and was soon to tell us why, for we had bardIv got down into the cabin when a sailor foi. lowed us. .V' Captain smollet, sir, axlng to speak with you" said he. "''"
 Il am always at the captains orders Show him in,' said the squire. The captain who was close behind his rnas- senger, entered at once, and shut the door behind him. N''' Well, Captasn smollett, what have von 10 sayF Al. well, hope; all shipshape and seawor..ny?' anu Yell. sir" said the captain. ,'better speak plain, 1 believe, even at the risk of offense. don't like this cruise: don't Ike the men; and don't like my officer. That's short and sweet"
 Perhaps, sir, you don't like the ship.' in. quired the squire, very angry as could see 'l can't speak as to that, sir, not having seen her tried" said the captain. '.She seems clever craft more can't say"
 Possibly, sir you may not like your em- ployer, either2' says the squire
 But here Dr. Liyesey cut m.
 Stay blt' said he. "stay bit No use of such questions as that but to produce ill., feeling. The captain has said too much or he has said too little, and I'm bound to say mat require an explanation of his words You don't you say like this cruise. Now. whyg'' '1 was engaged, sir on what we call sealed orders, to sail this ship for that gen tleInan where he should bid me" said the captain. ''SO far so good. But now | find that every man before the mast knows more than ! do. l don't call that fair, now do ycu2'
 NO" said Dr. Livesey, "I don't"
 Next" said the captain, q learn we are going after tgeasure-hear it from my own hands, mind you. Now, treasure is ticklish work; don't like treasure voyages on any account; and 1 don't like them above all when they are secret and when. (begging your pardon, Mir. Trelawney) the secret has been told to the parrot"
 ''Sllger's parrotg' asked the squire.
 "its way of speaklng.n said the cap tain. "Blabbed, l mean. It's my belief neither ef you gentleman know what you are about, but I'll tell you my way of it. life or death and close run"
 That is all clear, and, daFe say. true enough" replied Dr. Livesey "Me take the risk; but we are not so ignorant as you be- lieve us. Next you say you don't like the crew. Are they not good seamen2' : ''I don't like them, sir" returned Captain Smollet And think I should have had She choosing of my own hands, if you go to that"
 Perhaps you should,n replied the doctor. My friend should, perhaps, have taken you along with him, but the slight if there be one, was unintentional. And you don't like Mr Anowg'
 II don't sir. believe he's good seaman. but he's too free with the crew to be an offi- ccr A mate should keep himself to himself shouldn't drink with the men before the niast!' sss> Do you mean he drinksg' cried the squire.
 Nc, Sir" replied the captain; "only that he's too familiar"
 Well, n6N, and the short and long of it, captain2' asked the doctor. Tell us what yon want"
 Well, gentlemen, arc you determined to go on this criise?"
 Like iron" answered the sqnre
 "Nery good" said the captain. 'sThen, As you've heard me very patiently, saying things that l could not prove, AeaI me a few words more. They are putting the powder and the arms in the fore hold. Now, you have good place under the cabin; why not put them there?-tirst point Then you are bringing four of your own people with you, and they tell me some of them are to be berthed forward, Why not give them the beItas hero beside the cabin?-second point"
 Any morey' asked Mir Trelawney.
 "Any more?" asked the captain. There's been too much blabbing already"
 Far too much" agreed the doctor
 'l'll tell you what I've heard myself" continued Captain Smolett; that you have a map of an island; that there's crosses on the map to show where treasure Is; and that she island lies-"And he named the lati- tude and longitude exactly.
 "l never told that" cried the squire, ''to a soulv'
 "'rhe hands know 1t, sir" returned the captain.
 "Llvesey, that must have been you or Hawkins cried the squire
 1t doesn't much matter who 1t was re- piled the doctor. And could see that neith. CT he nor the captain paid much regard to NIT. Irelawney's pr0tesiations. Neither did l, to be sure, he was so loose a talker; yet in this case l believe he was really right, and that nobody had told the situation of the island.
 "a Well, continued the captain, "l don't know who has this map; but | make it a ttpoint it shall be kept secret even from me F. land NIT. Arrow. Otherwise 1 would ask 2 you to let me resign
 f VI see,' said the doctor. "Iou wish us to keep this matter dark, and to make a garri- son of the stern part of the ship manned with my friends own people, and provided with all the arms and powder on board. In other words you fear mutiny."
 Sir" said Captain Smolett, with no in- tenton to take Offcnse 1 deny your right to put words into my m0ut No captain. sir. would be justified in go to sea at all if he had ground enough ty that. As for NIT. Arrow, believe him thoroughly honest; ; some of tee men are the same; all may be for what know. But l am responsible for the ships satety and the life of every man Jack aboard of her. see things going, as think, not quite right. And l ask you to take certain precautions, or let me resign my berth. And that's all"
 captain omOllett, began the dOctofs with 8 smile, did you ever hear the fable of the mountain and the mouseP You'll ex- cuse me, dare say, but you remind me ot that fable When you came in here I'll stake my wig you meant more than this"
 Doctor" said the captain. you are smart When came in here meant to get discharged. l had no thought that Mr. TTelawney would hear a word"
 No more l would." cried the squire. Had Livesey not been here l should have seen you to the deuce. As it is, have heard you will do as you desire; but think the worse of ycu.
 That's as you please, sir" said the cap @ln. You'll find l do my duty"
 And with that he took his leave.
 Irelawney" said the doctor, contrary to all my notions, l believe you have man aged to get two honest men on board wlth